Monthly Archives: February 2015

A New One for my Favorite’s List

i quizzed a new waiter at the same old place, Williston Brewing Company, about anything new, like beer. He recommended a new a offering from Fargo brewing, Stone’s Throw, a Scottish Ale. He took my order and returned empty handed. The keg blew and that was the last one on hand. 

I told him that a hoppy bottled beer would be fine. He suggested Hopslam by Bell’s Brewing Company. Well, I loved it! Hoppy for sure but balanced. I do think I picked up a hint of honey as well as citrusy hops. Hmmmmm 10% ABV makes you want to be careful. This is the newest addition to my favorite’s  list. 







Beautiful color, nice lace and is served my palate well! 

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

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Wasatch Ghostrider White IPA

It is that time of the month, hmmmmm. Let me start over.

My twice per month client, a small independent oil company in North Dakota, has me enjoying a quiet snowfall on these crazy roads up in Williston. The evenings are mine, the day’s belong to the client.

I am back at the Williston Brewing Company this afternoon to  see what is new on their list. They do have an extensive list but due the frequency of my visits I have nearly exhausted my choices.

Today’s choice is a bottle of the Wasatch Ghostrider Ale. It is a nice Pale Ale brewed with a bit of coriander, not as much as a Belgian Wit Bier, but  just enough to be refreshing. Hops are not overwhelming and just enough of a citrus aroma. The label’s recommended food pairing is “squirrel over an open flame”. The PETA folks must have got to the management and squirrel is no longer on the menu. The Spinach Steak Salad is on the menu and does pair nicely with this beer. I really would liked the squirrel!

With the snow drifting down outside, a Utah brewed beer seems to be appropriate. The Ghostrider image on the bottle fits well with the “Wild West” atmosphere in these parts. Boots, jeans and mud are abundant.

Time to bundle up and walk three miles through the snow……. not really but the iPhone map indicated I might have to! The area is growing so fast many of the roads don’t show up. Case in point, I am a guest at a man camp just outside of town. The iPhone map located the address but the end point was a field and Joyce, the voice on my phone, told me to park and walk the rest of the way. Not!

I found a gravel road that brought me to the destination but the map showed me off-roading! Rooms are primitive but at least I have indoor plumbing and don’t have to share the shower!!!! I have television with a decent selection of channels and of course wifi!

More later.

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

Never Fear – I Still Love Beer

Travel. travel and more travel! I had a two week stint in Williston and checked a few more brews off of the great beer list at the Williston Brewing Company.

This last week last I was back home in Houston. I enjoyed a pint or two of my my homebrews. So very good! I also enjoyed a nice surprise at one of our local eateries, Three B’s Grill in Kingwood. It was St. Armold’s Divine Reserve No. 15, a Russian Imperial Stout. Very, very good! If you can find it, buy it! It will age and mellow over time. My home brewed Russian Imperial Stouts get better and better the longer they sit. I have one bottle that is four years old and last one was sampled 6 months ago, it was simply amazing!

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Great rich flavor and warms as it goes down.

Drink Local and Drink Local
Bishop

Lengthwise Brewing Company

Today is a Homebrew and Brisket Day.

Started off with 12 pound brisket, untrimmed and with a big dose of Lengthwise “Mighty Fine” Home Brewed Seasoned Salt. Great on chicken too- I should have written that adventure up a month or so ago! The Beer Butt Chicken was superb.

Back to the brisket. I am using a garbage bin rescued, gas fired smoker. After trouble shooting the system I found it only needed a new regulator. 24 bucks, a small shipping fee and I was in business.

I started off with my latest batch, the “Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale” . Pretty darned good but could use another couple of weeks to mellow out. My “Yes Dear” critic gave a sideways thumb. Yes dear, I will let it mellow!

An hour or so later after adding a big handful of Mesquite chips, I poured the Lengthwise inspired homebrewed “Golden Wheat Red IPA”. It is near perfect!

Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale - note the slight pink tint to the head. It is good and should nature well.

Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale – note the slight pink tint to the head. It is good and should nature well. Brisket Seasoning posing alongside.

 

The “Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale posing with the Mighty Fine bottle. Not a bad looking couple?

The Golden Wheat Red IPA posing with the Lengthwise seasoning.

The Golden Wheat Red IPA posing with the Lengthwise seasoning.

My Golden Wheat Red was whining about not being in the picture so I poured one and drank it! I still have a few hours to finish the brisket. I hope the Russian Imperial Stout doesn’t get into the act! At 10-11% ABV I might lose my sense of smoking focus.

My Russian Imperial Stout aged on charred oak that had been soaked in bourbon.

My Russian Imperial Stout aged on charred oak that had been soaked in bourbon. Is it my eyes or is this seriously out of focus?

The debate is on, should I or should I behave. The Stouts are in 22 ounce or 20 ounce flip tops. Here is a 22 ounce bomber positioned near the smoker just begging for release!

 

I decided to behave…. Maybe????

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop

The Beefy Boys set to come to Cardiff

Oh My Goodness…..I just ran across this post among the many I follow. I wonder if I can find and excuse to spend the day after my 64th birthday in Cardiff……And then stay and catch the Wales vs. Ireland match in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament? Now, let me think about the appropriate beer pairings. My mouth is watering!

Imagine the best burger that’s ever passed your lips. Chances are it’s not a Big Mac and I’ll bet you my bottom dollar it’s not a BK Whopper. My favourite burger may not be the best in the whole wide world, but it came damn close and next month it’s coming to Cardiff.

We are not deprived of burgers in Cardiff, far from it. You can’t look at a menu these days without seeing some sort of brioche bun, hand formed pattie served on some sort of chopping board or slate, but on Friday 13 March, a burger to blow all others out of the water will be gracing our city steps; the Butty Bach from The Beefy Boys.

The Herefordshire based burger pop-up are in a league of their own. With the title of the UK’s best burger to their name after smashing the competition at Grillstock’s BBQ festival…

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